Remember, it’s just a month and a half since we spoke of the 2012 Land Rover LRX Crossover in a front-wheel-drive version? Now, as Land Rover celebrates the 40th anniversary of its flagship Range Rover, there’s more reason to celebrate. The car maker will be revealing the production version of the LRX Crossover concept.

The compact Range Rover will be exposed with a lower, sleeker and more crossover-like look. This automobile is believed to take the British-based marque into a new world, a new age, where car-based crossovers rule over the usual, truck-like SUVs on the sales charts. The concept version of the car has been promoted for long now and we have a strong feeling that the production version of the LRX will take a similar shape; a less boxy appearance with a more sloping honeycomb grille, pinched headlights, and a roofline that appears to shrink towards the rear.

The show car was recently spotted and left everyone wondering about with plenty of questions. While that car sported a two-door configuration, rumours of a 4-door being under development are in the air. However, we believe that the show car’s LRX name is not going into production. Sources say, the actual name too will be revealed at the global webcast launch at Land Rover headquarters in the U.K.

New technology, mostly introduced to improve the poor mileage numbers, is sure going to be carried in the compact Land Rover. A hybrid version, in fact, is on tap though not expected to be available at launch. First unveiled at the January 2008 Detroit Auto Show, and shortly after at the Geneva Motor Show, Land Rover Managing Director Phil Popham had said that the concept was “smaller and lighter, and focused on sustainability.” Later, Land Rover officials had confirmed that the same target would hold good for their production version.

The most interesting feature of the concept vehicle was the use of the extraordinary hybrid system, dubbed ERA, or Electric Rear Axle Drive, which uses direct gasoline power for one axle and electric drive for the other, creating a dual-drive approach to all-wheel-drive. For the detailed details, we would have to wait for some time. Let the launch happen.

This car will be Land Rover’s first front-drive model, though initial production would be the all-wheel-drive version. As for a showroom appearance, we can expect the cars to reach there some time later this year, and the hybrid may premiere no later than 2013.

Land Rover, while under Ford, did the heavy development work for the LRX. However, the new car will make a debut backed by India’s Tata Motors which purchased the two high-line brands in early 2008. This car has been identified to be a potentially large-volume offering and will likely predict the success of all three, Land Rover, Jaguar and Tata Motors.